High school football: Sights stats and sounds from Mentor-Moeller

Michael Allen Blair/ MBlair@News-Herald.com

Cincinnati Moeller wide receiver Chase Pankey is tackled for a loss on a reverse attempt by Mentor's Nico Lautanen during the second quarter of Saturday's Div. I state championship game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

Quotable
“He wasn’t co-player of the year for nothing.” Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno, on Moeller QB Gus Ragland
“It helps when they’re 6-6 and they’re all 300 pounds. They’re big. We knew that’d be an issue form the beginning.” Trivisonno, on Moeller’s offensive line
“We needed one more stop. We had our chances. We needed to make one stop because they weren’t going to stop us either,” Trivisonno
“I’ve got to see it. They said he bobbled it. If he caught it clean, that’s a different story. You can’t come in late and hit like that. They said he bobbled it before that.” Trivisonno, on Jake Berardinelli’s TD reception that was waved off late in the game
“That No. 5 in the red jersey tonight deserves all the credit in the world. That kid worked his butt off more than anybody I know. It’s not easy to go from wide receiver to quarterback and lead a team this far into the playoffs. He put us on his back the whole playoff. He deserves all the credit in the world. I just wanted him to know that.” Brandon Fritts, on his talk with Conner Krizancic after the game
“It’s surreal. I know these guys are speechless, too.” Moeller senior Sam Hubbard, on winning two straight state titles
I’m an offensive guy at heart. I’m glad it’s over.” Moeller coach John Rodenberg
“Conner is a great player. He’s going to do great things at UC.” Moeller QB Gus RaglandBy the numbers8: Total touchdowns by Moeller QB Gus Ragland (five rushing, three passing)18: Receptions by Eddie Daugherty, a Division I state final record26: Points scored by Mentor, a Division I state final record36: Completions by Krizancic, a new Division I state final record55: Attempts by Krizancic, a Division I state final record419: Passing yards by Krizancic, a Division I state final record586: Mentor’s total yardage, a new Division I state final record1,136: Combined yards between Moeller and Mentor, a new Division I state final record7,126: Attendance in the Division I state finalMemorable send-off
The city of Mentor and supporters of the Cardinals’ football program gave the Mentor football team a memorable send-off on Saturday morning. Not only were a few hundred fans lined along the road from the school leading up Route 615, but the Cardinals also had an escort to the city limits by Mentor’s police and fire departments.
“That was something special,” Trivisonno said. “Very classy.”Ouch
Mentor assistant Byron Morgan separated his shoulder on a fall coming down out of the press box at halftime, Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella said.
Morgan was seen on the sideline late in the game with his arm in a sling and scuff marks from the fall on his jacket.
Coming into the game, Morgan was the only coach on Mentor’s staff with head coaching experience in a Division I state championship game.
In 2000, Morgan was head coach of Solon when the Comets advanced to the D-I state final, losing a tight game to Upper Arlington, 15-9, at Canton Fawcett Stadium. Morgan’s team finished 14-1 that season.Good following
The home side of the field, where Mentor’s fans were sitting at Fawcett Stadium, was nearly full on Saturday. Moeller’s side was half full, at best.
Cassella said his school sold 2,600 tickets in advance, 350 of which were student sales. The bright, sunny weather made for a nice walk-up gate, as well.
“That’s about what I thought it would be,” Cassella said of the advance sale. “It probably would have been more if it wasn’t on TV.”
SportsTime Ohio broadcasted live all seven state championship games.Mr. 200
Mentor statistician Pat Leber worked his 200th career game on Saturday.
Leber, whose sister Pam is the wife of Steve Trivisonno, said as a boy he used to “sit in front of the television” and compile stats for Browns, Cavaliers and Indians games. When Steve Trivisonno took over the Mentor football program, he asked Leber if he knew anyone who could keep statistics during the games and throughout the season.
His recommendation was a no-brainer — it was himself.
“We did statistics on paper until 1998,” Leber said. “Then we invested in a laptop and software in 1999.”
Through Trivisonno’s career, which spans 202 games including Saturday’s state final, Leber has missed only two games.
Pam Trivisonno said she spent many a night sitting by her brother doing Cavs, Browns and Indians stats.
“It’s been a nice ride,” Leber said. “A lot of fun. I enjoy it, I really do.”